GB2181759A

GB2181759A - Fabric softener composition

Info

Publication number: GB2181759A
Application number: GB08624762A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bob Dekker; Theodericus Johannes Straathof; Axel Konig; Eugene Paul Gosselink
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1985-10-18
Filing date: 1986-10-15
Publication date: 1987-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 2006-10-15
Also published as: EP0220156A2; JP2512448B2; FI82947B; EP0220156A3; MX165474B; JPS62161899A; PH22184A; ATE53228T1; DK499386A; HK103792A; FI864208A; FI864208A0; SG96692G; FI82947C; AU582980B2; CA1267756A; GB2181759B; IE59325B1; DK499386D0; EP0220156B1

Abstract

Rinse-added fabric softening compositions containing a fabric softening active system at least 10% of which consists of certain di(higher alkyl) cyclic amines, and relatively low concentrations of polymeric soil release agents such as hydroxyether cellulosic polymers, copolymeric blocks of terephthalate and ethylene oxide or propylene oxide and cationic guar gums.

Description

1

SPECIFICATION

Fabric softener composition 1 so GB 2 181 759 A 1 Technicalfield

The present invention relates to a fabric softening composition. More specifically, the invention relates to a rinse-added fabric softening composition containing a small but effective amount of a soil release agent.

Various h ig h molecular weight polymers have been suggested for use as soil release agents in laundry detergent compositions. During the laundering operation, these polymers absorb onto the surface of fabric immersed in the wash so] ution. The absorbed polymer forms a hydrophilic film which remains on the fabric 10 after it is removed from the wash so] ution and dried, thereby imparting soil release properties to the laundered fabric.

Rinse-added fabric softener compositions comprise a soil release agent have also been described. Typically, a rt-disclosed compositions comprise a quaternary ammonium compound as a fabric softening agent, and up to 10% of a soi I relaese agent.

U.S.Patent4,136,038 for example, discloses fabric softener compositions comprising from 1% to 30% of a water-insoluble organic fabric softener compound (e.g., a quaternary ammonium salt), and from 0.1% to 10% of a methyl cell u lose ether soil release agent.

Canadian Patent 1,100,262 describes fabric softening compositions comprising 1-80% of a quaternary ammonium compound, 0.5 - 25% of a certain choline ester salt and (optionally) 0.5- 10% of a soil release 20 agent. The preferred soil release agent is a copolymer of polyethyleneterephthalate and poly oxyethyleneglycol.

It has now been discovered that soil release agent-containing fabric softener compositions formulated in accordance with the art can adversely affect the whiteness of cotton fabrics treated therewith, particularly upon repeated usage. It has further been discovered that such adverse effects on whiteness can be reduced, 25 or even eliminated, by using the soil release agent at a low level. However, the soil release benefit is I ikewise reduced or eliminated at these lower concentrations of soil release agents.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fabric softening composition comprising a soil release agent which avoids or reduces adverse effects on fabric whiteness, yet provides a significant soi I release benefit.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relatesto an aqueous fabric softener composition comprising:

(Mfrom 1%ot50% by weight of the composition of a fabric softening activesystem wherein atleast 10%of 35 said system is selected from the group consisting of the diffligher alkyl) cyclic amines of theformula (CH2)n a 1 c 1 hl 1-11 N-X-R2 wherein n is 2 or3, R, and R2 are each selected from the group consisting of alkyl and alkenyl containing from 45 8to30carbonatomsandmixturesthereof,QisCHorN,XisR4or -R,7-T-C 11 U wherein R4 is an alkylene group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms or is (C2H40)r,,, m being an integer from 1 to 8, and TisO or N135, R5 being H oralkyl having 1 to 4carbon atoms; and 55 (B) from ^to 20% byweight of (A) of a soil release agent.

Detailed description of the invention

The fabric softening compositions herein are based on the discovery that (a) low levels of soil release agent are necessary to avoid whiteness negatives, and (b) the presence of a dl(higher alkyl) cyclic amine of formula fflherein enhances the soil release benefit obtained with such a low level of soil release agent.

Hence, the compositions herein contain a low level of soil release agent and a softener active system at least part of which is an amine of formula (i).

The softener active system comprises from 1 %to 50%, preferablyfrom 3% to 35% of the total composition.

At least 10% of the softener active system is a di (higher a 1 kyl) cyclic am ine selected from those of formula (1).

Preferably, at least 30% of the softener active system is such an amine. The entire softener active system may 65 2 GB 2 181759 A 2 be comprised of such amines, but preferably the system contains from 10% to 90%, more preferablyfrom 20% to 50%, of one or more conventional fabric softening agents. For proper dispersion of the am ine it is desirable (and, when no other softening agents are present, even necessary) to form u late the compositions herein in the pH range of from 2 to 6.5, preferably from 3 to 5.

The amount of soil release agent is related to the amount of softener active system in the composition. It has been found that compositions containing from 3% to 20%, preferably from 5% to 15%, by weight of the fabric softening active system, of soil release agent are suitable.

Thus, byway of example, a composition comprising 10% softener active material can contain from 0.3% to 2%, preferablyfrom 0.8% to 1.5% (by weight of the composition) of the soil release agent. Similarly, a cornposition having 40% softener active material can contain from 1.2% to 6%, preferably from 3.2% to 6% by 10 weight of the composition, of the soil release agent.

A. The softeneractive system As described hereinabove, the softener active system comprises (by weight of the active system) from 10% to 100% of a specified amine and from 0%to 90% of one or more conventional fabric softening compounds is such as quaternary ammonium salts and certain silicones.

a) The amine The cyclic amines used int he compositions of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formula.

(CHAn Formula (1) Q N-X-R2 c 1 M1 wherein n is 2 or3, preferably 2; R, and R2 are, independently, a C8-C30 alkyl or alkenyl, preferably C11-C22 alkyl, more preferably C15-C18 alky], or mixtures of such alkyl radicals. Examples of such mixtures are the alkyl 30 radicals obtained from coconut oil, "soft" (non-hardened) tallow, and hardened tallow. Q is CH or N, prefer ably N,Ms-R4-T-C 11 U wherein T is 0 or NR5, R5 being H or Cl-C4 alkyl, preferably H, and R4 is a divalent Cl-C3 alkylene group or 40 (C2H40),,,whereinmisanumberoffromlto8;orXisR4.

Specific example of such amines areas follows:

1-tallowamidoethy]-2-tallowimidazoline 1-(2-C14-C1,3-alkyi-amidoethyi)-2-C13-C17-alkyi-4,5-dihydro-imidazoline.

1-stearylamidopropy]-2-stearylimidazoline 1-tallowamidobutyi-2-tallowpiperidine 2-coconutamidomethyl-2-laurylpyrimidine These am ines and methods for their proparation are fully described in European PatentApplication 0199383.

b) Quaternary ammonium salt The softener active system can further comprise a conventional di(higheralkyl) quaternary ammonium softening agent. By "higheralkyV as used in the contextof the quaternary ammonium salts herein is meant alkyl groups havingfrom 8to3Ocarbon atoms, preferabiyfrom 11 to 22 carbon atoms. Examples of such 55 conventional quaternary ammonium salts include (i) acyclic quaternary ammonium salts having the formula:

Formula (11) R2 1 + 60 F12-N-R3 A i H4 wherein R2 is an acyclic aliphatic C1EX22 hydrocarbon group. R3 is a Cl- C4 saturated alkyl or hydroxyalkyl 65 3 GB 2 181 759 A 3 group, R4 is selected from R2 and R3 and A is an anion.

Examples of acyclic quaternary am moniu m salts are the well-known dial kyldimethylammoniu m sa Its such as ditallowdimethyl-ammonium chloride, ditallowdimethylammonium methyisulfate, di(hydrogenated tallow) dimethylammonium chloride, dibehenyidimethyl-ammonium chloride. 5 (ii) diamido quaternary ammonium salts having theformula:

0 R5 0 + 11 1 11 R, -C- NH- R2- N- M2- Nri-C- R, A 1 10 R8 (Formula 111) wherein R, is an acylicaliphatic Cl 5-C22 hydrocarbon group. R2 is a divalent alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R5 and R8 are ClC4satu rated a I kyl or hydroxya I kyl groups, and A is an anion.

Examples of diamidequaternary ammonium salts are methyl-bis(ta I lowamidoethyl) (2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium methyisulfate and methyl bis(hydrogenated tallowamidoethyl) (2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium methyisulfate, wherein R, is an acyclic aliphatiC C15-C17 hydrocarbon group, R2 is an ethylene group, R5 is a methyl group, R8 is a hydroxyalkyl group and A is a methyisulfate anion; these materials are availablefrom Sherex Chemical Company underthetrade names VariSoftR 222andVariSoftR 220, respectively.

(iii) diamide alkoxylated quaternary ammonium salts having theformula:

0 R5 11 1 0 + R, - C- NH - R2- N - R2- NH - C- R, A 25 (CH2CH20),H (Formula IV) wherein n is an integerfrom 1 to 5, and IR,, R2, R5 and Aare as defined above.

(iv) quaternary imidazoiinium compounds such as 1 -methyl-l -tallowamidoethyi-2-tallowimidazolinium 30 methyisuffate and 1 -methyi-l -(hydrogenated tall owa m idoethyi)- methyisu]fate.

The quaternary ammonium salt (b) preferably comprisesfrom 1 Mo 50%, more preferablyfrom 20%to 40% of the softener active system.

c) Optionalsificone component The fabric softening active system optionally contains an aqueous emulsion of a predominantly linear polydialkyl or alkyl, aryl siloxane in which the alkyl groups can have from oneto five carbon atoms and may be wholly or partially fl uori nated. Suitable silicones are polydimethyl siloxanes having a viscosity at 25'C in the range from 100 to 100,000 centistokes, preferably in the range from 1000 to 12,000 centistokes.

It has been found thatthe ionic charge characteristics of the silicone as used in the combination are impor- 40 tant in determining both the extent of deposition and the evenness of distribution of the silicone and hence the properties of the fabric treated therewith.

Silicones having cationic character show an enhanced tendencyto deposit. Silicones found to be of value in providing fabric feel benefits have a predominantly linear character and are preferably polydialkyl siloxanes in which the alkyl group is most commonyl methyl. Such silicone polymers are frequently manufactured commercially by emulsion polymerization using a strong acid or strong alkali catalyst in the presence of a nonionic or mixed nonionic-anionic emulsifier system.

In the present invention, the optional silicone component embraces a silicone of cationic which is defined as being one of (a) a predominantly linear di Cl-C5 alkyl or Cl-alkyl, aryl siloxane, prepared by emulsion polymerization 50 using a cationic surfactant as emulsifier; (b) an alpha-omega-di quaternized di(C1-C5) alkylor Cl-C5 alky], aryl siloxane polymer or (c) an amino-functional di Cl-C5 alkyl or aikyl aryl siloxane polymer in which the amino group may be substituted and may be quarternized and in which the degree of substitution (d.s.) lies in the range 0.0001 to 0.1, preferably.01 - 0.075. provided that the viscosity at 25'C of the silicone is from 100 to 100,000 cs.

B. The soilrelease agent Polymeric soil release agents useful in the present invention include cellulosic derivatives such as hydroxyether cellulosic polymers, copolymeric blocks of ethylene terephthaiate and polyethylene oxide or poly- propylene oxide terephthalate, and cationic guar gums, and the like.

The cellulosic derivatives that are functional as soil release agents are commercially available and include hydroxy-ethers of cellulose such as Methocele (Dow) and cationic cellulose ether derivatives such as Polymer JR-1 24', JR-400', and JR-30T (union Carbide). See also U.S. Patent 3,928, 213 to Temple et al, issued Decem ber23,1975, which is incorporated by reference.

Other effective soil release agents are cationic guar gums such as Jaguar Plus 1, (Stain Hall) and Gendrive 65 4 GB 2 181 759 A 458'(General Mills).

Preferred cellulosicsoil release agents for use herein are selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose; hydroxypropyl methylcel 1 u lose; hydroxybutyl methylcellulose; ora mixture thereof, said cei lulosic polymer having aviscosityin aqueoussolution at20'Cof 15to75, 000centipoise.

Amore preferredsoil releaseagentisa copolymerhaving random blocks of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide (PEO)terephthalate. More specifically, these polymers are comprised of repeating units of ethylene terephtha late and PEOterephthalate in a mole ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to PEOter ephthalate units of from about 25:75 to about 35:65, said PEOterephthalate unitscontaining polyethylene oxide having molecular weights of rom about300to about200O.The molecular weight of this polymericsoil releaseagentis intherangeoffrom about 25,000to about 55,000. See U.S. Patent 3,959,230 Seealso U.S. Patent 3,893,929 which discloses similar copolymers.

Another preferred polymericsoil releaseagentisa crystallizable polyester with repeatunitsof ethylene terephthalate units containing 10-15% byweightof ethylene terephthalate units together with 90-80%by weightof polyoxyethylene terephtha late units, derivedfrom a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight 300-5,000, and the mole ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units in 15 the crystallizable polymeric compound is between 2:1 and 6: 1. Examples of this polymer include the corn merciaily available material Zelcon'D 5126 (from Dupont) and MileasesT (from ICI).

Highly preferred soil release agents are compounds of formula:

X-FOCH2CH2)n (OR5),,-lfiA-Rl-A-R 2),' (A-R3-A-R 2)v+ -A-R'--AI(R50),n (CH2CH20)n 4X wherein the A moieties are essentially 0 0 (FormulaV) il 11 -OC-or-CO- moieties; the R' moieties are essentially 1,4-phenylene moieties; the R 2 moieties are essentially ethylene moieties, or substituted ethylene moieties having Cl-C4 alkyl or alkoxy substituents; the R 3 moietiesare substituted C2-C18 hydrocarbylene moieties having at least one O-RR50)n, (CH,CH20),-IX Or -AE(R2-A-R4-A) -1-,+(R50)m(CH2CH20)n 4X substituent or at least one moiety -A-ER2-A-R4w-A)+vR 2 _A_ crosslinked to another R' moiety; the R 4 moieties are R' and R' moieties, or a mixture thereof; each R' is C3-C4 alkylene, orthe moiety-R-A-R'--, where R 6 is a Cl-C12 lkylene, alkenylene, arylene or alkarylene moiety; each M is H or a water-soluble cation; each X is H, Cl-C4 alkyl or 0 11 7 -CR ' wherein R 7 is Cl-C4 alkyl; m and n are numbers such thatthe moeity(CH2CH20)- comprises at leastabout 50 50% byweight of the moiety-BR 50) (CH2CH20),+ provided thatwhen R 5 is the moiety-R 2 -A-R6L, m is 11; each n is at least about6; u and v are numbers such thatthe sum of u + v is from about3to about 25; w is 0 or at least 1; and when w is atleast 1, u,v and w are numbers such thatthe sum of u + v + w is from about 3to about25.

Preferred compounds of Formula V are block polyesters having theformula:

0 0 0 0 11 11 11 11 4 c il- a X(OCH2'-rl2In-HOC- W-CO-R 2)u (-OC-R 3_ CO-R 2)v -]-OC-R4-(;u-kr12k-r12U; n-X wherein the R' moieties are all 1, 4-phenylene moieties; the R 2 moieties are essentially ethylene moieties, 1,2-propylene moieties or mixtures thereof; the R 3 moieties are substituted 1, 3-phenylene moieties having the substituent GB 2 181 759 A 5 0 0 0 11 11 11 kkn2kH20),,-X atthe 5 position; the R 4 moieties are R' or R'rnoieties, or mixtures thereof; each X is ethyl or preferably methyl; each n is from about 12 to about43; when w is 0, u + v isfrom about3to about 10; when w is at least 1, u + v + w is from about 3 to about 10.

Particularly preferred block polyesters are thosewhere v is 0, i.e. the linear block polyesters. Forthese most preferred linear block polyesters, u typically ranges from about 3to about 8, especially for those madefrom dimethyl terephthalate, ethylene glycol (or 1, 2-propylene glycol) and methyl capped polyethylene glycol. The most water soluble of these linear block polyesters arethosewhere u isfrom about 3to about5.

The compounds of Formula Vcan be prepared by art-recognized methods. Although thefollowing synthe- 10 sis description isforthe preferred block polyesters, otherversions can be prepared by appropriate variation.

The block polyesters are typicallyformed from: (1) ethylene glycol, 1, 2propylene glycol or a mixture thereof; (2) a polyethylene glycol (PEG) capped at one end with a Cl-C4 alkyl group; (3) a dicarboxylic acid (or its diester); and optionally (4) a polycarboxylic acid (or its ester) for branched polyesters. The respective amounts of these four components are selected to prepare polyesters having the desired properties in terms of solubility and soil release properties.

The crude polyester compositions obtained from the above syntheses often contain block polyesters hav ing varying backbone lengths. The shorter backbone length polyesters are more soluble but have lesssoil release activity. The longer backbone length polyesters have greater soil release activity but are lesssoluble.

To obtain the more soluble, more active block polyesters,the crude composition can be fractionated with alcohol(s). For example, a crude polyester composition prepared with ethylene glycol can besuccessively extracted with 2-propanol, ethanol and methanol to obtain a methanol solublefraction containing more of the soluble, active block polyesters. Forthose crude polyester compositions prepared with 1, 2-propylene glycol, extraction with essentially anhydrous ethanol at lowtemperatures, e.g.,from about Wto WC prov ides an ethanol solublefraction having more of the soluble, active block polyesters. Theforegoing polymers 25 and methods of their preparation are morefuliy described in U.S. Patent Application 684,51 1,filed December 21,1984, by Eugene P. Gosselink,which is incorporated herein by reference.

While not preferred for purposes of this invention, effectivefabric softening compositions can beformula ted withoutthe di(higher alkyl) cyclic amines by combining fabric softening actives such asthose of Formula 11 with the soil release agents of Formula V. Indeed, when used with rinse-added fabric softener activesof Formula 11, certain of the agents of Formula V, in particular those where R % 1, 2-propylene and n is aboutl 6, impart improved soil release performanceto fabrics previously washed with liquid laundry products. In addition, when used with softener actives of Formula 11, certain of the agents of Formula V, in particularthose where R % 1, 2-propylene and n is about 43, impart improved soil release performance to fabrics previously washed with granular laundry products, especially granular products containing a high level of anionic deter- 35 gent surfactant.

1 k C. Optional ingredients a) Bronstedt acid Asclisclosed hereinabove,the pH ofthe composition is important for proper dispersion of theamine. Moreover,a moderately acidic pH is important for hydrolytic stability of polyester-type soil releaseagents, therefore, the composition preferably comprises a Bronstedtacid having a pKavalue of 6orless.

Theamountof acid should besuchthatthe pH of the dispersion, aftermixing, is inthe rangefrom 2to8, preferably notgreaterthan 6,and most preferably inthe range of from 3 - 5. Typically,the amount of acidis from 1 %to 30% by weight of the amine, preferably from 2% to 30%, most preferably from 3 to 15%.

Examples of suitable acids include the inorganic mineral acids, carboxylic acids, in particularthe low molecular weight (Cl -C5) carboxylic acids, and al kylsu Ifonic acids.

Suitable inorganic acids include HCI, H2S04, HN03 and H3P04. Suitable organic acids include formic, acetic, methylsulfonic and ethylsulfonic acid. Preferred acids are hydrochloric, phosphoric, formic and methyisulfonicacid.

b) Organic solvent The compositions of the present invention can be formulated withoutthe use of any organic solvent. How ever, the presence of organic solvents (for example, low molecular weight, water miscible al i phatic alcohols,) does not harm the storage stability, the viscosity, orthe softening performance of the compositions of this 55 invention.

Typically, the amine and the (optional) quaternary ammonium saltwill be obtained from a supplier of bulk chemicals in solid form or as a solution in an organic solvent, e.g., isopropanol. There is no need, whatsoever, to remove such a solvent in making the compositions of this invention. Indeed, additional solvent maybe added, if this is deemed desirable.

c) Optional nonionics The compositions optionally contain non ionics as have been disclosed for use in softener compositions.

Such non ionics and their usage levels, have been disclosed in U.S. Patent4,454,049.

Specific examples of non ionics suitable for the compositions herein include glycerol esters (e.g., glycerol 65 6 GB 2 181759 A monostearate), fatty alcohols (e.g., stearyl alcohol), and alkoxylated fatty alcohols. The nonionic, if used,is typicallyused ata level inthe rangeof from 0.510% byweightof thecomposition.

Although generally considered as having fabric softening properties,the nonionicsare notconsidered part of the fabric softening active system for the purposesof calculatingthe mount of fabric softening active 5 system in the composition or of calculating the amount of soil release agent.

6 d) Optionalsificone component The fabric softening composition optionally contains an aqueous emulsion of a predominantly linear polydialkyl oralkyl aryl siloxane in which the alkyl groups can have from one to five carbon atoms and maybe wholly or partially fluorinated. Suitable si 1 icones are polydimethyl siloxanes having a viscosity at 25'C in the range from 100 to 100,000 centistokes, preferably in the range from 1000 to 12,000 centistokes.

It has been found thatthe ionic charge characteristics of the silicone as used in the combination are impor tant in determining both the extent of deposition and the evenness of distribution of the silicone and hence the properties of a fabric treated therewith.

Silicones having cationic character show an enhanced tendency to deposit. Silicones found to be of value in 15 providing fabricfeel benefits have a predominantly linear character and are preferably polydialkyl siloxanes in which the alkyl group is most commonly methyl. Such silicone polymers are frequently manufactured commercially by emulsion polymerization using a strong acid or strong alkali catalyst in the presence of a nonionic or mixed nonionic-anionic emulsifier system.

In the present invention, the optional silicone component embraces a silicone of cationic characterwhich is 20 defined as being one of (a) a predominantly linear di Cl-C5 alkyl or Cl-alky], aryl siloxane, prepared by emulsion polymerization using a cationic surfactant as emulsifier; (b) an aipha-omega-di quaternized di Cl-C5 alkyl or Cl-c5 alkyl, aryl siloxane polymer or (c) an amino-functional di Cl-C5 alkyl or alkyl aryl siloxane polymer in which the amino group may be 25 substituted and may be quaternized and in which the degree of substitution (d.s.) lies in the range 0.0001 to 0.1, preferably 01 -0.073.

provided thatthe viscosity at 25'C of the silicone is from 100 to 100,000 cs.

The fabric softening compositions herein may contain up to 10%, preferablyfrom 0.1 %to 5% of the silicone component.

a) Other optional ingredients In ordertofurther improvethe stability& the compositions herein, and further adjusttheirviscosities, these compositions can contain relativelysmall amountsof electrolyte. Ahighly preferred electrolyteis CaC12.

Thecompositions herein can optionally contain other ingredients knownto be suitableforuse intextile softeners. Such adjuvents include perfumes, preservatives, germicides, colorants, dyes, fungicides, stabilizers, brighteners and opacifiers. These adjuvents, if used, are normallyadded at their conventional levels. However, inthe case of composition ingredients utilizedfora fabrictreatment effect, e.g., perfumes,these materials can be added at higher than normal levels, corresponding to the degree of concentration of the product.

Example 1

Fabric softener base compositions are prepared asfollows:

f 45 A B c D E DTDMAC') 2.33 1.17 7.0 3.5 1.5 Amine 2) 4.33 2.17 13.0 6.5 2.4 P1)MS3) 1.33 0.67 4.0 2.0 1.0 Perfume 0.25 0.25 0.75 0.75 0.4 50 Minors 4) 0.13 0.13 0.4 0.4 0.2 H0.............................. to pH 4 Water............................. balance 1) ditailowdimethylammonium chloride 2) 1-tallowamidoethyi-2- tallowimidazoline 3) polydimethyl slioxane having aviscosityof 5000centistokes 4) CaC12, dye, bactericide Tothe base compositions, soil release polymers areadded asfollows:

Composition A + 0.5% of Polymer 1 Composition B + 0.5% of Polymer 11 Composition C + 0.7% of Polymer N Composition D + 0.7% of Polymer Ill Composition E + 0.5% of Polymer 11 Polymer 1 contains the soil release agent:

7 1 10 h GB 2 181759 A 7 0 0 0 0 11 11 11 11 CHOCH2CH2)n(OC 0 -CH2CH2),,00 C-0-(CH2CH20),,Cl-13 wherein n is about 16 (average) and u is about 3 to about 5; the MolecularWeight of Polymer 1 is 1800 (average).

Polymer[] contains the soil release agent:

0 0 CH3 0 0 11 11 11 11 11 CH3(OCH2CH2)n(Od-OC-CH2CH)u OdOC-O-(CH2CH20)nCH3 wherein n is about 16 (average) and u is about3 to about 5; the MolecularWeight of Polymer 11 is 2000 15 (average).

Polymer Ill is Methocel T) E 15 (Dow), a cellulose polymer substituted with methoxyl (2% - 30%) and hydroxypropyl (7 -12%); viscosity of a 2% solution 15 CP.

Polymer IV isJaguar PluJ, a cationic guar gum (Stein Hall). Composition E is modified to increasethe concentration of DTDIVIACto 3.6% and delete the amine, yielding a fabric softening composition having 20 satisfactory properties.

Claims

1. An aqueous fabric softener composition comprising:

(A) from 1 %to 50% by weight of the composition of a fabric softening active system wherein at least 10% of 25 said active system is selected from the group consisting of di(higheralkyi) cyclic amines having theformula / (CH2)n \ Q \\ C / N-X-R, 1 K1 wherein n is 2 or3, R, and R2 are each selected from the group consisting of alkyl and alkenyl containing from 8to 30 carbon atoms and mixturesthereof, Q is CH or N, Xis R4or -R47T-C-, 11 U wherein R4 is an alkylene group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms or is (C2H40)n,, m being an integerfrom 1 to8, andTisOor NR5, R5 being H oralkyl having 1 to4carbon atoms; and (B) from ^to 20% byweight of (A) of a soil release agent.

2. The aqueous fabric softening composition of Claim 1 wherein the amount of soil release agent is from 5 to 15% byweight of the fabric softening active system.

3. An aqueous fabric softening composition according to Claim 2 wherein the soil release agent is a polymer selected from the group consisting of the hydroxyether cellulosic polymers, co-polymers of 50 ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate, cationic guar gums, and mixtures thereof.

4. A composition according to Claim 2 wherein the soil release agent is of formula:

X+(OCH2CH2WOR5),A+ (A-W-A-R 2)JA-1R3LA:-R 2),+ -A-R4-A+(R50),n(CH2CH20),,+X wherein the A moieties are essentially 0 0 11 11 -OC- or-CO- moieties; the R' moieties are essentially 1, 4-phenylene moieties; the R 2 moieties are essentially ethylene moieties, or substituted ethylene moieties having Cl-C4 alkyl or alkoxy substituents; the R 3 moietiesare 65 8 GB 2 181 759 A a substituted C2-C18 hydrocarbylene moieties having at leastone -0 +(R50)n,(CH2CH20)r, +X or -AJ(R2'-A-R4-A)-1-,+(R50),,,(CH2CH20)n+X substituent or at least one moiety -A +(R2-A-R4-A) +, R2-A- 1 crosslinked to another R 3 moiety; the R 4 moieties are R' or R 3 moieties, or a mixture thereof; each R 5 iSC3-C4 alkylene, orthe moiety - R-A-R6w--, wherein R' is a C1-C12 alkylene, alkenylene, arylene or alkarylene moiety; 15 each Xis H, Cl-C4alkyl or 0 11 7 -CR ' wherein R'isCl-C4alkyl; m and n are numbers such that the moiety - (CH2CH20)- comprises at least about 50% by weight of the moiety +(R50),n(CH2CH20).-+, provided that when Rlisthemoiety-R 2 -A-R6-,m is 11; each n isatleastabout6; u and v are numbers suchthat thesum of u + visfrom about3to about25; wisO orat least 1; and when wis at least 1, u,v andwarenumbers suchthatthesum of u +v +wisfrom about3toabout25.

5. A composition according to Claim 4 wherein the fabric softening active system comprises, in addition to 30 the di(higher alkyl) cyclic amine, a conventional softening active compound selected from the group of quaternary ammonium salts having at least one acyclic aliphatic C15-C22 hydrocarbon group.

6. A composition according to Claim 5 wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is ditallowdimethylammo nium chloride.

7. A composition according to Claim 6 wherein the soil release agent is a compound of theformula 35 0 0 CH3 0 0 11 11 5 11 11 CH3(0CH2C1-12)11 (0d-gC-CH2CH)u 06-@t-,-u- kkr12',1r120),CH3 wherein n averages about 16 and u is about3 to about5.

8. A composition according to Claim 7 wherein the di(higher alkyl) cyclic amine is 1 -tallowimidoethyl-2 tallowimidazoline.

9. A composition according to Claim 5 wherein the softener active system comprises from 0.1 %to 10% of a predominantly linear di(C1-C5) alkyl orCl-C5 alkylaryl siloxane in which the alkyl groups are partially orwholly 45 fluorinated and which maybe substituted with cationic nitrogen groups, the siloxane having a viscosity at 25T of at least 100 centistokes and up to 100,000 centistokes.

10. A composition according to Claim 9, wherein the siloxane is a polydimethyl siloxane.

11. A composition according to Claim 4 wherein the softener active system comprises: from 25% to 40% by weight of the softener active system of an acyclic quaternary ammonium salt of formula (11) herein; from 50% 50 to 70% of a di(higheralkyi)cyclicamine of formula (1) herein; from 5%to 15% of a polydimethyl siloxane having a viscosity at 250Cof at least 100 centistokes and upto 100,000 centistokes.

0 Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Croydon Printing Company (L1 K) Ltd,3187, D8991685. Published by The Patent Office, 25Southampton Buildings, London WC2A l AY, from which copies maybe obtained.